“Belarusian dictator will be forced to step down by financial collapse and mass rallies in the streets”

One should fight for one’s future, and not sit idly frozen by the fear of repressions, belives one of the leaders of the opposition.

At the website of Radio Svaboda an on-line conference with a member of the organizing committee for creation of “Belaruski Rukh” (Belarusian Movement), a coordinator of “European Belarus” civil campaign Viktar Ivashkevcih, has taken place.

We remind that recently a group of oppositional politicians including Viktar Ivashkevich, has published a manifesto about non-violent resistance to the authorities and active opposition of citizens to all state institutions. “We call for action. And those who want to organize round table discussions with Makei may do that,” Ivashkevich stated.

- Could Lukashenka with his back up against the wall try to “give up” Belarusian statehood?

- I believe that Lukashenka cannot sell out Belarusian statehood, but he can sell out and already sells out the Belarusian property. The longer the dictator is in power, the more he would sell out. The sooner he is ousted from power, the smaller amount of our property would be taken over by Russians.

- Do you really believe Sannikov is the most promising politician?

- I believe that after his release the Belarusian society would do justice to Andrei Sannikov’s adherence to principles, reliability and heroism, especially in comparison to questionable behavour of some other politicians.

- What is your attitude to Milinkevich? Don’t you think that Milinkevich is getting in way the opposition deliberately?

- The coalition of Milinkevich and Ramanchuk at the latest press-conference in Warsaw speaks volumes.

If Milinkevich would not call for harsh economic sanctions against the dictatorship with the aim of quick release of political prisoners, if he would not support the campaign of boycotting the false parliamentary election in the nearest future, his position would be similar to the one of Ramanchuk. And the attitude to them would be the same.

- To what state should the regime be driven for them to start a conscientious dialogue, and hasn’t it been proved by the past experience that like Gaddafi our regime would fight to the last ditch defending itself?

- In the next month we are to see what future expects the dictator who is carrying out a dialogue with his nation with the help of bullets. The fate of Gaddafi, I hope, would influence the behaviour of Lukashenka.

And the dictator could be forced to step down by a financial collapse of the regime and when workers, businessmen and officials dissatisfied by their situation would take to the streets. That is why we should push for economic sanctions; we should urge to withdraw band deposits and to buy foreign currency, to deny paying illegal extortions, and to encourage the discontented to take part in street protest rallies.

- How do you think to evaluate the results of your activities, which are described in the manifesto? Will you consider buying-up of the currency by the population to be a result of people’s reading your Manifesto? How many supporters do you, Shushkevich and Kazulin have? How many activists do you have?

- Has the Belarusian Popular Front caused a wave of anti-Communism, and destroyed the dictatorship of the Communist party in 1991, or has the BPF used this wave and by heading it succeeded in winning independence for Belarus? A politician should feel the objective sentiments in the society and use them for his aims. And effectiveness of politicians’ actions would be evaluated by Belarusians during the free elections which we are still to make possible.

At least 2000 members of the initiative group of Andrei Sannikov, 150000 people who have given their signatures for him, stand behind me and Shushkevich. In Minsk taken alone, there are at least 300,000 voters who had voted for Sannikov.

- What do you think about the statements of the European Union, the Council of Europe and some separate countries, that they allocate considerable sums for activities of the civil society, while these sums does not exist in reality? Isn’t it better to render targeted assistance without intermediaries?

- I absolutely agree. These declared sums of assistance just hinder in collecting assistance for activities in Belarus. People are saying: “What’s the use of my 10, 100, 1000 dollars? You have been given 87 millions.” And these millions are torn apart to be spent on different seminars and conferences, like the one Milinkevich and Ramanchuk had been invited for. This clique, by the way, is sure to receive money for participation in phony elections. And the campaign “Boycott to regime” won’t get money.

- Why have you chosen Sannikov out of all the political forces and personalities? What unites people who are so different ideologically: Ivashkevich, Kazulin, Sannikov and Shushkevich?

- Ivashkevich, Kazulin, Sannikov and Shushkevich are united by a desire to see an independent Belarus as a full member of the European Union, and by realization that the dictatorship is the main obstacle on the way to this objective.

Sannikov’s behaviour and the actions of other candidates after December 19 convince us that Sannikov deserves out support.

- To you mind, what political and socio-economical problems are the most urgent for our country and demand immediate attention?

- The major problem of the Belarusian society is hog-tied creative initiative of our people, and absence of freedom. That is why the leading Western firms do not come to us with their investments. That is why above all we need to liquidate the dictatorial regime, hold free elections, apply for entering the European Union, and start realization of the programme preparing for this admission.